Golden Whistlers, Fame Robins, White-eared Honeyeaters

GOLDEN WHISTLER

Late Autumn is here and Winter not far away.

We have had some good rain this week, the first for many months  and the countryside and bush has suddenly turned green. Tiny shoots are carpeting the ground everywhere turning, what last week was dry dusty ground, to a carpet of green.

Today the sun was in and out of the clouds all day, and little birds were in and about the trees and scrub of the Monument Hill.

Male Flame Robin

This White-eared Honey-eater was enjoying a bath in a middle of the track puddle

Male Golden Whistler

Female Yellow Whistler

Red Wattlebird

RED WATTLEBIRD

The Red Wattlebirds are beautiful. With their yellow bellies and their bright red wattles, they stand so straight and tall, like soldiers at attention. They are cheeky and so often seen, it is a little easy to neglect their regal elegance.


 
  

 Described in The Australian Bird Guide as 'Noisy, pugnacious and conspicuous; actively chases smaller birds from food sources by swooping and bill clapping.'

Some also regard their voices as unpleasant; 'a harsh, grating cough or bark' says Michael Morcombe's book. Poor wattlebirds, nobody seems to like them much.








That sounds like the report of an active young boy in his first year at school by a exasperated infant teacher. I liked those lively young boys with 'go' in them at school. Perhaps that is why I like the wattlebirds.






One of my pleasures of early Spring, is to wake in the predawn, to hear  them 'schhhkkkkk, schhkkking, in the trees around our house, like an old man sucking on his false teeth.

Fairy Wren

FAIRY WREN

The fairy wrens are well and truly well out and about.












They are such pretty little birds.  Some people without an eye for beauty, group them under the name of LLBs, Little Brown Birds. They are so small and delicate, so many shades of brown and what beautiful upright tail feathers. And  oh what lovely orange eye makeup.